Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Lost Atmosphere When I engaged my 10th graders in discussions about racism and discrimination in society, I was really happy to see the heated debates. Although I did not like the fact that Black students were defending the "Black side" of the issues and the White students were defending the "White side" of the issues, I thought exchanging ideas and perspectives was a move in the right direction. My purpose was to promote a critical view on social issues in my students. What I did not expect was that days and weeks following this lesson, my Black and White students refused to work together. I could not have them cooperate in group assignments. If I let the students choose their own groups, Black students chose Blacks and White students chose Whites. Working together had never been an issue among my students prior to the lesson on racism and discrimination. I do not know how to bring back what was lost because of this lesson. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Another solution would be to have the same type of assignment, but in reverse. Have the students hold a discussion or maybe even write a paper defending the opposites race's issues. If students complain that they don't know what to write, create an interview scenario where a white student interviews a black student and vice versa to find issues to write about. If students refuse to interview one another, then tell them they must research the issue on their own to write the paper.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I agree that having student take the reverse or opposite point of view would be beneficial and then have students share their opposite view. Rated On: February 22, 2015 3:43 am Rated By: ajybus                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this. I think a great way for students of different backgrounds to understand each other is to have them work together. It is important for students to see both sides of the story. Rated On: February 25, 2015 8:16 pm Rated By: tuWyDe